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If you're looking to buy an action camera to capture your adventures, chances are you were thinking of getting a GoPro.

They're the ones that are widely advertised, and seen in pop culture. The amazing camera specs on the GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition also makes it the perfect tool for movie makers. "Hardcore Henry," for instance, was shot entirely with a GoPro.

Although GoPro dominates the market, there are other excellent, more affordable options when it comes to action cameras. Some of the GoPros on the market are also overkill for many of us who just want to capture our holidays and upload them to Youtube or social media. So for those who want a cheaper alternative to the GoPro, or who just want to try a new kind of action camera, we've got you sorted.

Here are the best action cameras on the market, which you can strap to yourself or your car, bike, dog, skateboard, and so on.

The best budget option: Polaroid XS100i Wi-Fi Extreme Edition

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Although Polaroid has been fairly quiet in the past years, its best-selling action camera is definitely a great comeback for the company. For those who want a budget friendly action-cam, this one is for you. Clearly, it's not going to compete with the other big names on this list, but it's easy to use and if you're ready to live with it's limitation (which mainly consist of shakiness and a Jell-O effect when underwater), you'll love it.

Overall, it's a great entry-level camera with which you can do a lot of things. Polaroid also sweetens the deal by adding a 1/4-20 tripod mount with easy clip system. It also comes with Wi-Fi (although it's also available without) so you can stream your videos.

This camera also enables slow motion and films at up to 1080p. Basically, unless you're a professional, or serious about your videos, this camera is perfect for most needs.

The best overall option: Tom Tom Bandit

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With a motion sensor, GPS, easy-edit feature, and slow motion, the Bandit is a serious rival to all the GoPros out there. Like the GoPro, this little camera shoots videos in 4K and has a battery life of three hours when shooting at 1080p and 30 fps, although that drops considerably when using Wi-Fi to stream live to your phone. One of the best features of the TomTom Bandit is the easy-edit feature, which lets you cut footage straight on the phone's app, and even add a track to your edit from your music library.

The motion sensors, which measure whether you increased speed or did a cool stunt, also help in the editing process by automatically selecting the 'best bits' of your videos.

In other words, the Bandit equals the GoPro for a lot of the major features, and even bests it when it comes to its easy-editing feature. The Internet really doesn't need un-edited footage of long bike rides anymore.

The no-fuss option: ISAW EDGE 4K Ultra HD

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Although ISAW, a Korean company, has been around for a few years now, I'd never heard of the EDGE 4K before. I was pleasantly surprised by this GoPro alternative, however. Not only does it shoot 1080p at 60 fps, but it's also got 4K video (no doubt in an attempt to steal away some of GoPro's following). It also features WiFi to stream your videos to the ISAW Viewer II smartphone app, which is extremely practical for directly viewing your videos and sharing them on social media. The best perk of buying this great little camera? A generous accessory bundle, including a waterproof case that will let you dive up to 40m.

The ISAW doesn't come with all the bells and whistles the other cameras have, but for the price, we're inclined to forgive it. This is a no-fuss, durable, lightweight camera that is designed to withstand extreme environments. Perfect for the kind of person who needs an action camera that will deliver, and who doesn't need to be constantly overwhelmed by all kinds of data.

The futuristic option: Olympus Tough TG Tracker

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This Olympus action camera looks like something from outer-space and has more sensors than you'll ever need. The company actually reckons the camera would be good for anthropologists, or people who need real-time data, and don't feel like stopping every five minutes to collect it.

So what exactly does it track? The action cameras includes a GPS, compass, accelerometer, barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and water sensor. It also features a data-logging function and LED headlight.It's basically the Swiss Army Knife of action cams.

With its LED headlight, electronic 5-Axis image stabilization, and tilt-out monitor, you can nail the most difficult shots. We all know how hard it can be to get the exact right shot when skiing, mountain biking, or water-rafting, but this camera has you covered.

Without it's case, it's waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, crushproof, and dustproof. In other words, it's the perfect camera if you face extreme weather on a regular basis, or happen to be slightly clumsy.

The extreme-sports option: Garmin VIRB XE

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With crisp, clear, and wobble-free HD footage, the Garmin VIRB XE is one of the best cameras out there. Although the Garmin VIRB XE doesn't have 4K video, it shoots 1080p at 60fps, which will suit most extreme sports fans. It also has loads of features that will make it worth your money and could have GoPro on the ropes. With its case, it can dive up to 50m, an impressive 10m more than the GoPro Hero 4.

Although the first generation VIRB Elite was disappointing on the audio side of things, Garmin obviously pulled it together with the new VIRB XE, and added Bluetooth audio, which means you can use a Bluetooth mic. Which is a pretty cool feature.

Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, it can pair-up with different gadgets to collect data on heart rate, speed, RPM, and throttle position. It can also pair-up with sport watches. The impressive amount of data it can collect means that you can overlay your speed, for instance, on your videos. Sometimes, it can be hard to really see the speed at which people are going on videos, so this feature is actually incredibly practical, if only for the brag-factor.

The deep-diving option: Sony HDR-AS50 Action Camera

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This Sony action cam is best for those who love diving. It's the first action camera to be able to reach 60m deep. Impressive, isn't it? Because of its flat lense, you'll also be able to bring back super crisp, clear footage from your underwater expeditions. It performs amazingly out of the water, too. The SteadyShot feature suppresses tiny vibrations caused, for example, by bike riding. This means that the videos you take are completely wobble-free, which make for a better viewer experience. If you're one for night time activities, you can also record from dusk to dawn, as well as choose either a 'narrow' or 'wide' film view.

It's also durable. Whether you go to the beach and bury it in the sand, go in conditions down to -10 degrees, or drop it, it will survive. At £180, this amazing action camera is also unbeatable when it comes to balancing the quality and price.

The mainstream option: GoPro Hero 4 BLACK

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If you want top of the range, this is the GoPro you need. That being said, it might be overkill for many and is best suited for professionals with powerful computers that can edit 4K footage, and those who own a 4K TV and can view the footage in all its glory. Although the GoPro Hero 4 also comes in the SILVER edition, the BLACK edition has a faster processor and can shoot in higher resolution or higher frame rates. The SILVER does have the edge when it comes to the built-in touch display, which is practical when it comes to framing as well as changing settings, and it's also a bit cheaper.

An app compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows phones also lets you change settings from your phone (which is especially functional with the BLACK edition), as well as play back videos thanks to Wi-Fi, and upload the videos to social media. The big problem with the camera is that although you can turn Wi-Fi on from your phone, you'll have to shut it down manually. Even if you turn the GoPro Hero 4 off, Wi-Fi will still be on and drain your battery.

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